Saturday, January 30, 2016

Cal Bears Show Well at New Mexico Invite

Eugene Hamilton III took second in the 600-meter race Saturday
GoldenBearSports.com Eugene Hamilton III

Bears Show Well at New Mexico Invite

Cal Men Take Fourth and Women Take Sixth at Indoor Season Opener
By Cal Athletics on Sat, January 30, 2016

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Isaac Dan led the way for the Golden Bears Saturday as they opened their 2016 indoor season off with the University of New Mexico Team Invitational held at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The senior won the weight throw with a toss of 63.02.00 (19.25m)
His first place finish gave California’s men’s team 10 points and helped them place fourth overall with 62 points Saturday. The Cal women came in sixth finishing with 49 points. Dan was the defending champion at the throw in the University of New Mexico Team Invitational. Last year he won with a throw of 61-11.00.
Also having a strong day was junior Eugene Hamilton III who finished second in the men’s 600-meter race with a time of 1:18.94.
Hamilton III improved on his finish from last year’s University of New Mexico Team Challenge 600-meter race where he finished fourth. Additionally, he cut nearly four seconds off his time. Hamilton III also competed in the men’s 800-meter race where he placed sixth with a time of 1:52.87. Once again an improvement from his seventh place finish in 2015.
For the Cal women its 4x400-meter relay team came in strong with a third place finish. Anchored by three freshmen making their indoor college debut, the Bears put up a time of 3:46.25, which was gave the team six points to its total. The Bears’ Taylor Smith was one of the freshmen on the women’s relay team. Her eighth place finish in Saturday’s 400-meter dash also contributed to the team’s score.
Not a freshman but making her Bears’ debut Saturday was Monterey Peninsula College transfer Jayla Scholis. Saturday the Northern California Junior College champion came in fourth in the women’s 60-meter dash. She was just .02 second from the second place finisher.
Making his 2016 debut was sophomore Walt Jones IV. The long jumper ended last season by setting a new legal PR with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships with a best leap of 25-6.75 (7.79m). His seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships was the best finish by a Cal man since Lee Adkins also finished seventh in 1995. Saturday Jones IV placed third with a jump of 23-04.75 (7.13m).
Like Jones IV, senior Thomas Joyce is a returning NCAA Championship competitor. Joyce is coming off an impressive junior campaign where he finished second in the Pac-12 Championships in the 1500-meters final (3:46.46). His time of 3:48.43 at the NCAA Championships placed him 21st nationally. Saturday the distance runner took sixth in the men’s 3000-meter run.
Sophomore Karsten Wethington returned as well. The triple jumper who finished 33rd in the NCAA West Prelims last season beat his prelims score of 48-10.75 with a jump Saturday of 49-11.75 (15.23m).

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